Add Jae's Jampacked Days to your Favorites

Hi again,

Working out some technical difficulties, but plan to be back soon. In the meantime, consider adding Jae's Jampacked Days to your Favorites, so you can check back on our progress. Lots of great activities for kids to come!

Back with new activities for kids!

Sorry folks for the unexpected lengthy absence! To save time, I'll catch up here with just some quick links to the latest kids activities in and around St. Louis:

Kids Valentine's Day cards and mailbox crafts at Yucandu Art Studio in St. Louis

Snow day games and activities for kids during St. Louis winter weather

Things to do on snow days in St. Louis: Indoor activities and games for kids

Girls Night Out Slumber Party for moms and daughters at Magic House in St. Louis

St. Louis Science Center provides educational summer camp activities for kids

Free online games for kids to learn about St. Louis winter weather forecast

Bald eagles, falcons, hawks, other birds of prey at museum's educational exhibit

Crafts, Cupid photos and more activities for kids at Eckert's Valentine's brunch

Eric Carle The Very Hungry Caterpillar storytime, crafts at History Museum

Hope you go out and enjoy some of these great events. I'd be thrilled to hear if you did!

Raising a bookworm: Best kids books for your toddlers this Christmas

Christmas is an exciting time for kids because of all the new toys they receive, but if you want to give a gift that keeps on giving, consider wrapping up a few books. When you read to children from an early age, they begin to develop better vocabulary and reasoning skills and their attention spans and imaginations flourish. When you give a child a book, it's a gift that lasts a lifetime. Not only do they gain many wonderful skills from listening to and later, reading, books, but books can inspire children to accomplish great things, forge on through trials and believe that anything is possible.

Check out the suggestions that the St. Louis Children's Recreation Examiner has made for your Christmas gift giving this year.

Model train exhibit in St. Louis brings Christmas cheer

Model trains are fascinating any time of year, but there is something about a model train at Christmas time that conjures up warm childhood memories of decorated storefronts or the clickety clack of the engine coming round the Christmas tree.

If you'd like to share your warm memories, or your general fondness for trains with your children, there is a wonderful opportunity for you to do so through January 2nd. Jefferson Barracks Visitors Center is the site of... Read More

Best 2010 Christmas toys for St. Louis shoppers

When kids have favorite movie or tv characters, it seems the choices for toys are endless, but what about when you just want to find something that is fun, educational and won't be a quickly passing phase?

The St. Louis Children's Recreation Examiner has several gift ideas to make your holiday shopping easier this year.

Check out:

Best Christmas toys for kids: Toy reviews for your 2 to 3 year old child

Best Christmas toys for kids: Toy reviews for your 3 to 4 year old child

Best Christmas toys for kids: Top picks by LagoonaMagoo St. Louis and Illinois

and to find out what you might want to avoid:

Christmas in St. Louis: Should you buy these toys for your kids?

Happy shopping, everyone!

Where to get pictures with Santa in St. Louis, St. Charles and Illinois

Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus right down Santa Claus lane.... if your kiddos are eager as can be to see jolly ole St. Nick and tell him about all the toys they want for Christmas, he's making appearances all over town.

Put on your best clothes for photos and then check out any of these great Santa sighting spots in

St. Louis

Illinois

St. Charles

Toy stores have shows and activities for kids in St. Louis, St. Clair County and Madison County

When your kids ask to go to the toy store, do you cringe? Do you instantly think of ten reasons why you can't go and hope that with some good old fashioned distraction, they'll forget the whole idea?

Well, maybe you just need to avoid your usual "stomping grounds", and by that, I do mean, the place where, by the end of the night, you are stressed out, cranky and stomping your foot.

Saturday, November 13th is the perfect day to try something new. LagoonaMagoo and Once Upon a Toy want to show you shopping - and having fun - in a whole new way.

See some amazing yo-yo tricks, get your face painted, pet a pony and find out what giant animal you can get your picture taken with! Plus, get your Christmas shopping done early this year, so you can sit back, relax and enjoy the holiday season. Oh and did I mention, you'll be helping charity too?

You can't get all this at your usual place, but you can this Saturday in St. Louis, Edwardsville or Fairview Heights.

Have breakfast with Santa, play at the Magic House all day

Ready or not, here it comes... Christmas! Soon your children will be making wish lists and getting antsy for that special sleigh to arrive. On December 12th, you can give them a little "taste" of Christmas and help them ease the waiting.

Santa will make an appearance at the Magic House in Kirkwood. You can come and enjoy a delicious breakfast, and then play at the Magic House the remainder of the day.

There is limited space, so get the details and make your reservation soon!